A FFVII Fan fiction I had posted in FF.net. I thought I should bring it here as well, for those who don't feel like digging through the site. Enjoy, and sorry if the characters are a bit OOC, it's how I want to portray them though.
Summary: Life has been different since she joined the Turks. Tifa, wanting to know how they operate no matter how boring the mission, is willing to play bodyguard for the one man she tried killing 3 yrs ago. The sudden change of heart caught Rufus' eye. With his curiousity peaked, he is determined to find out what Tifa's hiding from him, or running away from.
Disclaimer: I do this for enjoyment and to challenge myself to create better fanfics. I own nothing but my own ideas, so do not sue.
Empty promises & Mission Details
Tifa closed the office door behind her. A small sigh escaped her lips. What have I truly gotten myself into this time?
Her fists curled up into taut balls at her sides, shaking in anger. Cloud… Tifa bit her lower lip in a struggle for self control. I'm tired of crying for something that won't happen! I was chosen over a memory...I don't think he will ever understand how much that hurt since that day, and every day. Even after he was forgiven by Aerith and learned to forgive himself for not protecting her...he left me alone to look after the childern. No money to help and bunch of empty promises for Denzel and Marlene. A lone crystalline tear licked at her cheeks, Tifa hastily brushed it away with the back of her hand. I'm with the Turks, I'll be able to earn money to support my family and give them new hopes away from Cloud. She let out a sardonic chuckle. "How ironic…three years ago I was trying to kill these people, now I am working with them for the benefit of my own family."
The brunette Turk steadily walked towards the elevator and pressed the up button. As she waited for the elevator to arrive, dark wine eyes wandered around the corridor. Now as she thought about it, she didn't really take in her surroundings. The new Shin-Ra building was only fifty stories high and is the only tallest building built in Edge, not that it bothered her any. If anything she was quite relieved. She doesn't have to climb endless flights of stairs to reach the top floor if the power goes out. The giant corridor was filled with elegant lights hanging from the ceiling and the occasional potted plant placed asymmetrically down the hallway to give some life to the desolate area. Tifa shrugged, guessing it was because the interior design was still being worked on.
The sound of a soft ping and sliding doors broke her concentration of studying the room. Tifa entered the elevator and scanned the controls with confusion. "Oh holy hell, which button was it for the Turks floor?" She bit the bottom corner of her lip as she raised an uncertain hand and pressed the forty-eighth button. I hope to Gaia this will be the right floor.
A couple minutes later the sleek silver elevator doors slid open. The first thing Tifa noticed was that it was oddly quiet. I guess this is the wrong floor, unless...Reno must be planning something. Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, she stepped out in search for directions. As Tifa took that step her suspicions were confirmed, she was brought into a teasing headlock and the offending person ruffled up her chocolate locks.
"Look at this Rude, not even a day and she decides to play bodyguard for the Boss man already. She's growing up so fast!" Reno exclaimed proudly. He grunted shortly after with a well placed punch to his gut. He doubled over, releasing Tifa's captive head. "What in Bahamut's name did you do that for?" the Red-head said, nursing his sore gut. Rude chuckled at his partner's predicament, Reno shot him a heated glare.
"You have some nerve at jumping me out of nowhere and putting me into a headlock! I was just merely defending myself." Tifa huffed.
"Gotta be on top of your game and ya didn't have to hit me THAT hard 'Teef," he moaned. "Anyways, Dot-boy wants you in his office."
"Why? And did you just call our boss dot-boy?"
"Yup, do it all the time and I dunno. Why don't you go ask him yourself, sweet cheeks?"
Reno swore if looks could kill, he'd be a smoldering puddle of goo beneath her venomous glare. "Sticks and stones babe sticks and stones."
Tifa scowled, ignoring his last comment. "Gee, thanks for the help Reno."
"Anytime Rookie," the Red-haired Turk turned and lightly punched his stoic partner in the arm. "Let's go find 'Laney and see what she's up ta." With that being said, both the Turks took off leaving Tifa alone. She shook her head. How does Elena put up with these guys everyday?
Tifa travelled down the small hallway, sneaking past the labyrinth of desks and made it to Tseng's office at the end. She lightly rapped on the door. "Come in," a voice answered. Tifa grasped the cool knob and turned it, as she opened the door-she saw the man buried in paperwork. The brunette stepped in and quietly closed the door behind her. Tifa used the short moment to study the Wutian man before her.
He looked calm and collected with his wits about him. Tseng's fingers swiftly flicked through the pages and deftly signed the blank spots with an elegant twirl from the wrist. His hair was pulled back into a tight ponytail, a few rebel strands of black hair hung closely to his young, tanned face. He looked up and met her observing gaze. Dark wine met a dark chocolate brown. Tifa closely observed his eyes, they were cold, piercing but yet they had a flicker of warmth moving behind them.
Tseng stopped shuffling papers around and softly placed his pen beside them. He raised an eyebrow in slight amusement. "Is something the matter, Miss Lockheart?" Being caught off guard, Tifa tried to compose herself as much as possible as she sputtered her response.
"N-no sir, n-nothing wrong at all and its Tifa now since we're working together now. No need for such formalities." Tifa mentally kicked herself in the head. How could I stare at him like that! It's impolite, oh; I bet he thinks I'm just like a childish teenager.
Tseng chuckled lightly. "Relax, Tifa. My apologies for not giving you my full attention when you stepped through the door. As you can see," he pointed at the stack of neatly organized papers taking up the space on his desk. "I am slightly behind with my paperwork. How may I be of help to you?"
Tifa bowed her head in embarassment. "Um…Reno said you needed to discuss something with me?"
Tseng stared at her, slowly blinking a few times."Ah, yes. I wasn't expecting you so soon. I thought they would've taken you for a more thorough tour of the complex before they sent you to me." He said as he opened a drawer in his desk. He deftly pulled out a small package and handed it over to the brunette Turk. "It's about basic protocol and duties. Also inside there," he continued to explain in detail, "Are the blueprints of the Conference building and some guidelines. However," Tseng paused for a moment, looking straight into Tifa's eyes. "I advise to you, Tifa, is that you always stay close to the President where ever he goes until he feels he is safe without you. Even then, stick close in the perimeter and don't let him out of eyesight." Tifa nodded slowly, trying to soak in all the crucial details. So many in so little time! Her head started to spin.
"Meet here at 6:00 am sharp tomorrow morning. Make sure you're packed and prepared for the days ahead."
"Understood," With a small salute Tifa spun on the back of her heels and walked out of the Tseng's office. She strolled by her desk which is beside Elena's and picked up her keys then slowly made her way towards the elevator. She entered the metal box and pressed the home floor button. Once the elevator came to a stop she stepped out and briskly made her way towards the entrance. A pang of sorrow struck her heart, she had nothing left back at home but haunting memories of what she used to have. The kids aren't living with me anymore, not until... With a soft sigh she continued on, she couldn't let it bother her now. Tifa had a funny feeling she will need all the sleep she can afford. After all, she is the President's new bodyguard.
Summary: Life has been different since she joined the Turks. Tifa, wanting to know how they operate no matter how boring the mission, is willing to play bodyguard for the one man she tried killing 3 yrs ago. The sudden change of heart caught Rufus' eye. With his curiousity peaked, he is determined to find out what Tifa's hiding from him, or running away from.
Disclaimer: I do this for enjoyment and to challenge myself to create better fanfics. I own nothing but my own ideas, so do not sue.
Empty promises & Mission Details
Tifa closed the office door behind her. A small sigh escaped her lips. What have I truly gotten myself into this time?
Her fists curled up into taut balls at her sides, shaking in anger. Cloud… Tifa bit her lower lip in a struggle for self control. I'm tired of crying for something that won't happen! I was chosen over a memory...I don't think he will ever understand how much that hurt since that day, and every day. Even after he was forgiven by Aerith and learned to forgive himself for not protecting her...he left me alone to look after the childern. No money to help and bunch of empty promises for Denzel and Marlene. A lone crystalline tear licked at her cheeks, Tifa hastily brushed it away with the back of her hand. I'm with the Turks, I'll be able to earn money to support my family and give them new hopes away from Cloud. She let out a sardonic chuckle. "How ironic…three years ago I was trying to kill these people, now I am working with them for the benefit of my own family."
The brunette Turk steadily walked towards the elevator and pressed the up button. As she waited for the elevator to arrive, dark wine eyes wandered around the corridor. Now as she thought about it, she didn't really take in her surroundings. The new Shin-Ra building was only fifty stories high and is the only tallest building built in Edge, not that it bothered her any. If anything she was quite relieved. She doesn't have to climb endless flights of stairs to reach the top floor if the power goes out. The giant corridor was filled with elegant lights hanging from the ceiling and the occasional potted plant placed asymmetrically down the hallway to give some life to the desolate area. Tifa shrugged, guessing it was because the interior design was still being worked on.
The sound of a soft ping and sliding doors broke her concentration of studying the room. Tifa entered the elevator and scanned the controls with confusion. "Oh holy hell, which button was it for the Turks floor?" She bit the bottom corner of her lip as she raised an uncertain hand and pressed the forty-eighth button. I hope to Gaia this will be the right floor.
A couple minutes later the sleek silver elevator doors slid open. The first thing Tifa noticed was that it was oddly quiet. I guess this is the wrong floor, unless...Reno must be planning something. Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, she stepped out in search for directions. As Tifa took that step her suspicions were confirmed, she was brought into a teasing headlock and the offending person ruffled up her chocolate locks.
"Look at this Rude, not even a day and she decides to play bodyguard for the Boss man already. She's growing up so fast!" Reno exclaimed proudly. He grunted shortly after with a well placed punch to his gut. He doubled over, releasing Tifa's captive head. "What in Bahamut's name did you do that for?" the Red-head said, nursing his sore gut. Rude chuckled at his partner's predicament, Reno shot him a heated glare.
"You have some nerve at jumping me out of nowhere and putting me into a headlock! I was just merely defending myself." Tifa huffed.
"Gotta be on top of your game and ya didn't have to hit me THAT hard 'Teef," he moaned. "Anyways, Dot-boy wants you in his office."
"Why? And did you just call our boss dot-boy?"
"Yup, do it all the time and I dunno. Why don't you go ask him yourself, sweet cheeks?"
Reno swore if looks could kill, he'd be a smoldering puddle of goo beneath her venomous glare. "Sticks and stones babe sticks and stones."
Tifa scowled, ignoring his last comment. "Gee, thanks for the help Reno."
"Anytime Rookie," the Red-haired Turk turned and lightly punched his stoic partner in the arm. "Let's go find 'Laney and see what she's up ta." With that being said, both the Turks took off leaving Tifa alone. She shook her head. How does Elena put up with these guys everyday?
Tifa travelled down the small hallway, sneaking past the labyrinth of desks and made it to Tseng's office at the end. She lightly rapped on the door. "Come in," a voice answered. Tifa grasped the cool knob and turned it, as she opened the door-she saw the man buried in paperwork. The brunette stepped in and quietly closed the door behind her. Tifa used the short moment to study the Wutian man before her.
He looked calm and collected with his wits about him. Tseng's fingers swiftly flicked through the pages and deftly signed the blank spots with an elegant twirl from the wrist. His hair was pulled back into a tight ponytail, a few rebel strands of black hair hung closely to his young, tanned face. He looked up and met her observing gaze. Dark wine met a dark chocolate brown. Tifa closely observed his eyes, they were cold, piercing but yet they had a flicker of warmth moving behind them.
Tseng stopped shuffling papers around and softly placed his pen beside them. He raised an eyebrow in slight amusement. "Is something the matter, Miss Lockheart?" Being caught off guard, Tifa tried to compose herself as much as possible as she sputtered her response.
"N-no sir, n-nothing wrong at all and its Tifa now since we're working together now. No need for such formalities." Tifa mentally kicked herself in the head. How could I stare at him like that! It's impolite, oh; I bet he thinks I'm just like a childish teenager.
Tseng chuckled lightly. "Relax, Tifa. My apologies for not giving you my full attention when you stepped through the door. As you can see," he pointed at the stack of neatly organized papers taking up the space on his desk. "I am slightly behind with my paperwork. How may I be of help to you?"
Tifa bowed her head in embarassment. "Um…Reno said you needed to discuss something with me?"
Tseng stared at her, slowly blinking a few times."Ah, yes. I wasn't expecting you so soon. I thought they would've taken you for a more thorough tour of the complex before they sent you to me." He said as he opened a drawer in his desk. He deftly pulled out a small package and handed it over to the brunette Turk. "It's about basic protocol and duties. Also inside there," he continued to explain in detail, "Are the blueprints of the Conference building and some guidelines. However," Tseng paused for a moment, looking straight into Tifa's eyes. "I advise to you, Tifa, is that you always stay close to the President where ever he goes until he feels he is safe without you. Even then, stick close in the perimeter and don't let him out of eyesight." Tifa nodded slowly, trying to soak in all the crucial details. So many in so little time! Her head started to spin.
"Meet here at 6:00 am sharp tomorrow morning. Make sure you're packed and prepared for the days ahead."
"Understood," With a small salute Tifa spun on the back of her heels and walked out of the Tseng's office. She strolled by her desk which is beside Elena's and picked up her keys then slowly made her way towards the elevator. She entered the metal box and pressed the home floor button. Once the elevator came to a stop she stepped out and briskly made her way towards the entrance. A pang of sorrow struck her heart, she had nothing left back at home but haunting memories of what she used to have. The kids aren't living with me anymore, not until... With a soft sigh she continued on, she couldn't let it bother her now. Tifa had a funny feeling she will need all the sleep she can afford. After all, she is the President's new bodyguard.